Doing business in Dubai

Dubai is one of the most popular destinations for business travellers and is home to the regional offices of leading financial and business service companies.

GETTING THERE

Dubai is serviced by many key airlines but Emirates leads the way connecting more than 86 destinations to the city. Upon arrival at Dubai airport there are hundreds of public and limo taxis outside the terminal which are managed by concierge staff. There are also taxis for women only, managed by female drivers.

STAYING THERE

Traffic can be heavy in the city so choose a hotel or serviced apartment near where you’ll be doing business. Here are three of our favourites:

DIFC/DowntownFinancial and professional services are based in DIFC. Recently opened in Al Haboor City and next door to the Westin and the St Regis is a classy W with an American bar and DJ sessions. The result is pure funk.

Media City and the MarinaMedia City, whose name suggests its inhabitants, and the Marina are about 20-30 minutes from the airport and about 5 minutes apart. A number of serviced apartments have sprung up inthe area in the last two years including the Amwaj Suites and Suha Apartments.

JLT/Jumeirah Lake TowersIf your idea of a business trip includes a glass of Guinness in a sports bar, the Bonnington is for you.

EATING AND DRINKING

With chefs like Gordon Ramsey, Jason Atherton and Gary Rhodes all mainstays you know there’s no lack of great restaurants in Dubai. Here are three different kinds of places in Dubai’s three main locations:

Downtown – Prime 68 at the J W MarriottIf you need to ensure that the person at the next table isn’t listening to every word, try Prime 68, a steakhouse on the hotel’s 68th floor. Great view, great food and perfect for a private business dinner.

Media City – Bubbalicious at the WestinFriday is brunch time and a Dubai favourite is created when three of the Westin’s famous restaurants merge into Bubbalicious, one spectacular location on the ground floor. Check out the carved fruit – it’s spectacular.

JLT – Jazz @ PizzaExpressThe first Pizza Express to open outside the UK nestles between skyscrapers in the iconic Jumeirah Lakes Towers in Dubai. Munch a pizza while listening to live music from world class musiciansseven nights a week.

BUSINESS CUSTOMS

Don’t be surprised if someone is late. All sorts of things can affect travel in Dubai including new migrants working as taxi drivers so they often don’t always know the route.

It’s the custom when meeting a woman not to shake her hand unless she takes the initiative. Many local women believe that they should not come into physical contact with a man outside her family.

“Given that there are areas such as the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) where you can’t just hail a taxi it’s worth considering hiring a driver for the day. You might pay 100-250 dihram for 2-3 hours but this is all negotiable and will depend on the time and where you want to go. “The traffic on all of Sheikh Zayed Road between Media City and Downtown between 4 and 6 on a Thursday is just crazy. Remember – it’s the beginning of the weekend.”